Welcome

Marilyn J. Monteiro, Ph.D., a Licensed Psychologist and Licensed Specialist in School Psychology, has developed an innovative approach to evaluating and working with individuals with autism spectrum brain style differences and their families. She maintains a therapy practice working exclusively with individuals on the autism spectrum and their families. Dr. Monteiro also consults with many school districts, evaluating children and adolescents, supporting students in classrooms, and training autism evaluators, teachers, and school psychologists. She is a national and international speaker in the area of autism.

Dr. Monteiro is the author of two books and an autism evaluation protocol.

Her first book, Autism Conversations: Evaluating Children on the Autism Spectrum Through Authentic Conversations, was published by Western Psychological Services in 2010. Autism Conversations was written for autism evaluators, the parents of children who may be on the spectrum, and members of the general public interested in autism. Readers are introduced to the use of descriptive language and interview techniques that bring the individual autism spectrum profile to life during the autism evaluation process. Techniques for interviewing parents, teachers, and children across age and ability levels within a conversational framework are provided throughout this guidebook for autism evaluators. It is available through Amazon US.

Her second book, Family Therapy and the Autism Spectrum: Autism Conversations in Narrative Practice, published by Routledge Press, was released in the US and the UK February of 2016. Family Therapy and the Autism Spectrum was written for clinicians who work with individuals on the autism spectrum and their families across the life cycle. Readers of the book gain a deeper understanding of the rich, nuanced, and singular worldview held by individuals with autism spectrum brain style differences. They learn how to support individuals and their families as they make four key narrative shifts in developing their autism story: from powerless to capable, from dysregulated to controlled, from prompt-dependence to autonomy, and from disorder to style. It is available from Amazon US and Amazon UK.

Her test, the Monteiro Interview Guidelines for Diagnosing Asperger’s Syndrome (MIGDAS) is a qualitative interview protocol for clinicians who evaluate verbally fluent children and adolescents with suspected autism spectrum developmental differences. It is published by Western Psychological Services and has been available for autism evaluation specialists since 2008. A revised and updated MIGDAS-2 is scheduled for publication in 2017. The MIGDAS-2 is retitled the Monteiro Interview Guidelines for Diagnosing the Autism Spectrum. Updates include alignment with the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria and added protocols for children and adolescents with little or no verbal fluency. An adult interview protocol has been added as well.

“I know that Autism Conversations will be read for advice, before and during a diagnostic assessment, when writing the report and when discussing the results and implications. I recommend that each clinician has his or her own copy, because if this book is shared, whoever has Autism Conversations will be reluctant to part with it.”

“Congratulations Marilyn Monteiro on yet again creating a world of wisdom in your new book. Not only do you teach about the human elements of people with autism, but you provide us with the tools and most importantly, respectful language to develop a trusting and respectfully mutual relationships with clients. I highly commend your new title Family Therapy and Autism Spectrum to practitioners, teachers, educators, parents, and siblings, and everybody who wants to learn a ‘new language’ and progressive framework, to work with people with autism spectrum disorder.”

– Eirini Lammi, Consulting Psychologist, Australian Council for Educational Research

About this website

For parents: This section provides information about autism. It is written in a conversational style to answer questions frequently asked by parents. Learn about the book, Autism Conversations, find a glossary of terms, and download information about helpful books and resources.

For professionals: This section provides information for professionals who work in the area of autism. Learn about the book, Autism Conversations, and the test, Monteiro Guidelines for Diagnosing Asperger’s Syndrome (MIGDAS).

Please note that in her office practice Dr. Monteiro provides diagnostic autism evaluations for children, adolescents, and adults. She also provides therapy services for individuals and families, specializing in treating families who have a member on the autism spectrum. To schedule an appointment call 214-363-7004 or send an email request through the Contact page on this website.

Click the player below to listen to the latest Tellecall interview with Dr. Marilyn Moneiro.

Her second book, Family Therapy and the Autism Spectrum was written for clinicians who work with individuals on the autism spectrum and their families across the life cycle. It is available from Amazon US and Amazon UK.

The test, Monteiro Interview Guidelines for Diagnosing Asperger's Syndrome: A Team-Based Approach (MIGDAS), is a qualitative interview protocol for clinicians who evaluate verbal children and adolescents with suspected high-functioning forms of autism, including Asperger's Syndrome. The MIGDAS is sold to professional evaluators. To purchase, visit the Western Psychological Services' website.